The Prize System as applied lo Small Farmers in Ireland. 429 
from the entire surface, including- the site of the house and 
offices. And all this has been effected in a backward dis- 
trict by one of the most unassuming of men, whose house 
is a quarter of a mile from the public road, and is approached 
by neither roadway nor " bohreen," but through fields and 
over ditches. It must be admitted that the Spencer system has 
conferred incalculable benefits on Sampey ; and to it belongs 
the merit of having raised him to the rank of a model farmer. 
I am glad to be able to say that his immediate neighbour has 
made several improvements in his holding since I first saw it 
in 1872. 
John Kearns is third on the list. He holds 11 statute acres 
from Mrs. Gibbons, at a rent of 6/. 8s. He saved some money 
out of his earnings in England as a labourer, and paid a fine for 
this farm in 1870. He has since built a good slate house, and 
converted the old farm residence into temporary offices, which 
will soon be replaced by a new set. 
The approach to this farm is too narrow for carts ; but it has 
been greatly improved by Kearns. 
A good garden has been inclosed. 
I first visited this farm in 1874, and found it in a very 
fair condition. One " bottom " field was yielding very coarse 
herbage. At my suggestion it was drained, broken up, and 
manured in 1875, and sown with corn and grass-seeds in 1876. 
It has now an improved appearance, and so has the entire farm. 
Last year the under-agent of the estate visited the farm. 
More recently Kearns has obtained an appointment on the 
estate. 
Michael McDermott, of Cloonaf, holds 19 statute acres, 
close to the town of Ballaghaderrin ; and is one of the most 
prosperous small farmers in the entire district. He held 
under a middle-man until very lately, at a rent of 12Z. a year ; 
but the lease having expired, Lord Dillon reduced the rent to 
10/. 10s. 
There are about 9 acres of bog-land, of which one acre is 
retained for fuel, and eight are cropped as follows : — 
a. r. r. 
Potatoes 2 0 0 
Oats with grass-seeds 03 0 
Oats alone 1 1 0 
Artificial grass 100 
Permanent pasture 300 
8 0 0 
All the. upland is in permanent pasture, except half-an-acre, 
which is occupied by the garden, house, and offices. 
